Under the Royal Poinciana canopy

Illustration: Phan Nhan

*

- When did Van return to Vietnam? - I asked, when we were both seated in a coffee shop in the heart of the city, next to the glass door overlooking the busy boulevard.

- Since yesterday, Ngan! I got to the airport in the late afternoon. It was raining heavily.

I nodded:

- The rainy season came early this year.

A meaningless sentence, as if to cover up my confusion. Because even though we were together for four years during our difficult and impulsive college years, we had been apart for too long. Time did not make me forget Van, but it unintentionally pushed us apart, becoming strangers.

Hesitating for a moment, I asked again:

- Will Van stay in Vietnam or continue?

- Stay, no matter what, home is still the best place for everyone to return to.

I laughed. It was raining.

In the coffee shop, the owner is an old lady over seventy who often plays Thai Thanh, Hong Nhung music... The melody is gentle in the pouring rain. I sat looking at him then looked down at the street. People in raincoats were rushing home. The wind rolled the bright red royal poinciana petals from the treetops flying down. I have loved the rain since I was a student. Back then, every time I sat on the balcony of the dormitory and saw it rain, the leaves falling on the narrow yard where students often played soccer, jumped rope, I felt a sadness in my heart. The rain of student life reminded me of the rains of my childhood, when I lived with my grandmother, my mother. Going to the city to study, the rain was the moment for me to open my heart, cry and laugh, be sad and happy... all of it was released into the summer rain falling on the land of memories.

Van also loves the rain like me. Every time it rains, he often wears a raincoat and goes to the dormitory with me to watch the millions of tiny water drops falling on the balcony, and brings me some grilled bananas or boiled corn... He doesn't live in the dormitory but stays far away from school. Years have passed, but we still keep in each other beautiful, kind images, associated with our distant student days. I remember, every time we saw us walking together in the hallway or under the sunny flowery schoolyard, our close friends teased us that we were a couple. Van smiled, and I felt my cheeks burning. Van glanced at me, and I avoided Van's eyes by looking up at the canopy of the tree with the royal poinciana flowers blooming red, filling the sky with longing. We lingered like that until the last season of royal poinciana flowers bloomed on the branches. He left the school, left the city, carrying with him many memories and lingering feelings.

- Van! What is your biggest regret before going to study abroad? - I suddenly asked. After a moment of silence, amidst the sound of the rain falling outside the porch, he suddenly said to me:

- My biggest regret is not saying a word to you, not leaving you any signal, any trust before leaving Vietnam.

I looked down at the glass of water that was melting like the sadness that had melted in my soul during those years when Van was away from home. That day, Van left, leaving me with a big question mark, asking why he left without saying a word. Years have passed, are the beautiful memories meaningless to him?

At that moment, tears suddenly rolled down my cheeks.

*

After graduating from university, we were lucky to get a scholarship to study abroad. I happily held Van’s hand and shouted like a child whose mother bought him new clothes.

Near the day of studying abroad, my mother unfortunately became seriously ill. My heart was in turmoil. My mother told me to go ahead, she would get better, my brother would take care of the family. My studies were the most important. I nodded to reassure my mother. So I did not go abroad to study, and until now, I still believe that my decision was the right one. Later, I can go to many places, but my mother is only one. Van went, like a bird flying to a distant sky, high and wide, full of bright moonlight. I returned to my small fishing village by the sea to live peaceful days with my mother, taking care of her until she was completely well. Those days in the fishing village were the most peaceful days of my life. Looking at the waves crashing in the distance, the fishermen sailing their boats out to sea and returning with joy and excitement, my soul felt purified and healed.

After my mother recovered, I returned to the city to continue my dream. Every few months, I returned to the fishing village. That place was like a strong spiritual support for me.

For all those years, Van was gone like a lost bird. I did not receive any news about him. There were times when I thought that Van had forgotten me, but I still longed for him, waited for him, and cherished every memory. The last royal poinciana season before we parted, I did not remember clearly what I said to Van, but I clearly remembered Van's tight grip on my hand, along with his passionate, affectionate eyes. Those simple, gentle gestures made me believe that his heart was sincere and warm. And I waited for him every day in this city. I knew Van would return, because this city had helped him preserve many precious things. Among them, there were things that forever belonged to the memories of both of us.

- Have you been well these past few years, Ngan? Mom is still healthy, right, Ngan? - He asked me, his hand holding my slender fingers resting lightly on the table.

- Mom is still healthy, bro! Mom's health is what I wish for the most. Me too, living well and doing the job I love.

- Do you teach at the school we used to study at?

My heart is broken. Van still remembers my dream of becoming a teacher, wearing the ao dai every morning to class, telling students what dreams are, and how to preserve and nurture dreams...

I nodded.

Van was silent. I understood that, returning to Vietnam from another faraway country, many old memories rushed back to him. Even for me, when I met Van, the difficult and deprived years as a student suddenly appeared, including the nights working as a tutor, knocking on children's heads, then stopping with Van at the noodle shop in front of the school gate to eat quickly after class, including the memories of the season of royal poinciana blooming bright red on the treetops, carrying with it all our beautiful dreams...

- Ngan, are you angry with me? - He suddenly asked me.

- For what? - I asked again.

- Because you left Vietnam for several years without giving me any signal.

I shook my head.

- No, Van! We each have our own choices.

Suddenly, he grabbed my hand:

- Ngan, that day I was afraid you would have to wait...

- I'm still waiting! - I whispered - Even though I don't know what I'm waiting for.

He looked at me, Van's eyes were red. I had never seen him like that!

- Ngan! You don't deserve it.

I blinked. Tears spilled out and rolled down my cheeks.

In the slow and heart-stirring sound of the melody "Last Autumn", I whispered, enough for him to hear me:

- I believe Van will come back.

We were silent, but our hearts were filled with emotions. The summer rain stirred up old memories, the rain made the bright red phoenix flowers fall to the ground, the rain awakened old memories, awakened feelings that seemed to have been lost because of time and the hustle and bustle of life.

The rain stopped, the streets were bustling with vehicles and the bustling sounds of people pouring out of shops. After taking shelter from the rain, many people who had been strangers would surely become friends again, and many love stories would surely blossom in the rainy season full of memories.

We stood up and walked out of the coffee shop, by then, Van's iced black coffee had already melted. Under the blooming royal poinciana tree signaling the arrival of another summer, a summer filled with beautiful memories, I said goodbye to Van and walked away. At that moment, he grabbed my hand and held it back, making me stunned, then I felt my hand warm, as if about to melt in Van's soft hand. He affectionately said:

- We will meet, right Ngan?

I looked deep into his eyes and smiled:

- Of course, Van!

I walked away. But I felt Van still watching my footsteps, like those old days, every time he took me back to the dormitory gate, Van also watched my footsteps until my figure disappeared behind the ancient moss-covered yellow wall.

I looked up at the Royal Poinciana. The Royal Poinciana flowers were red like the heart. The Royal Poinciana flowers stirred up in me a whole world of longing!

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/202505/duoi-vom-hoa-phuong-vi-64d3f71/